Daily Bread - APR/18/07

Colossians 4:3 - Also praying for us that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ for which also I am a prisoner.

Paul seeks prayer from the saints so that there would be an open door for him to make known the mystery of Christ - which He also called the mystery of the gospel and the mystery of God (Ephesians 6:19; 1 Corinthians 2:1; Colossians 2:2). If we are going to impact the lives of those around us with the truth and power of the gospel then we too must have supernatural help. Excellency of speech with a kind and sympathetic tone is not good enough (1 Corinthians 2:1).

Paul realized that prayer was essential to both the open door of opportunity and the divine ability to reveal Christ Jesus (Ephesians 6:19). We would do well if we would take note of the need to pray in the Spirit for all those who are ministering the gospel so that the effectiveness of ministry would increase (Ephesians 6:18; Romans 5:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:25; 2 Thessalonians 3:1). If we did nothing else but take up our part in prayer and behavior to support the effectiveness of the local church meetings, great advancements would be made.

We should also recognize that we should petition others to pray in agreement with us that each of us would have the open door of opportunity as well as the boldness to make known the gospel in our everyday lives. There are so many people around us who need and desire to be touched by God. If we will consistently ask and consistently make ourselves available to the Holy Spirit then we will discover the power of God flowing through each of our lives touching those who we minister to (Mark 16:17; John 14:12; Acts 1:8).

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org